A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper 3 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper lifted off on September 25, at 8:09 a.m. EDT, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission further strengthens the partnership between ULA and Amazon to rapidly launch and deliver innovation solutions for global connectivity.
“We are proud to collaborate with Amazon and advance their mission to provide fast, reliable internet to communities around the world,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “Our mission is to launch critical payloads for our customers and serve as the catalyst to help Amazon build this global broadband constellation aligning us with one of our core missions of connecting the world.”
The Kuiper 3 launch deployed a batch of 27 operational Project Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit. There are five remaining Kuiper missions on the Atlas V rocket, building up to 38 high-cadence, rapid fire launches on the next-generation Vulcan rocket. ULA will deliver more than half of the Project Kuiper constellation’s 3,200 satellites, through the world’s largest commercial launch agreement.
ULA’s next launch is ViaSat-3, planned to launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
L-1 ULA Update: Atlas V ready to GO! for Thursday’s launch of Amazon Kuiper 3 mission from the Cape
Everything continues to progress towards the ULA Atlas V launch carrying the Kuiper 3 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The mission is planned to lift off on Thursday, September 25, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch is planned for 8:09 a.m. EDT with a 29-minute window.
Today’s forecast shows a 95 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.
Atlas V Kuiper 3 mission information available here.
September 24
Launch viewing
Wondering how you can see the Atlas V launch of Kuiper 3 for Amazon? This visibility map shows when and where your best chances are to see the rocket as it lifts off Thursday at 8:09 a.m. EDT (1209 UTC) and heads northeasterly into space.
ULA will offer live reports from launch control in our automatically refreshing blog beginning at 5:15 a.m. EDT (0915 UTC). The launch webcast starts at L-20 minutes.
Launch Forecast Summary:
- Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 5%
- Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule
- Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24-hour delay: 15%
- Primary concern: Cumulus Cloud Rule
September 23
Atlas RP-1 loaded
The joint launch team is wrapping up the planned activities for rollout day and the Atlas V rocket is being powered down for the night. The next event will be starting the launch countdown.
A short time ago, the Atlas V’s first stage was loaded with room-temperature RP-1 fuel that will feed the main engine during the initial phase of the Kuiper 3 launch. Fueling of the rocket with cryogenic liquid oxygen to the main stage and liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to Centaur occurs in the final hours of the countdown.
Launch of the Atlas V to deploy the next 27 Project Kuiper satellites remains scheduled for Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral.
L-2 ULA Update: Atlas V ready to send Amazon’s Project Kuiper 3 on its mission
Everything continues to progress towards the ULA Atlas V launch carrying the Kuiper 3 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The mission is planned to lift off on Thurs., Sept. 25, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch is planned for 8:09 a.m. EDT with a 29-minute window. Today’s forecast shows a 90 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.
September 23:
The Atlas V rocket is emerging from the Vertical Integration Facility for its trip to Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral. Ground crews are readying the rocket to carry the next Project Kuiper satellites into space for Amazon. Liftoff is planned for Thursday at 8:09 a.m. EDT (1209 UTC).
September 22:
The LRR, led by ULA Launch Director Ron Fortson, was completed this morning at the Advanced Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC).
Leadership from ULA, Amazon and Space Force assessed the readiness of the rocket, payload and mission assets, discussed the status of pre-flight processing work, heard technical overviews of the countdown and flight, and previewed the weather forecast that projects an 85 percent chance of meeting the launch rules.
At the conclusion of the meeting, senior leaders were polled and gave a ready status for launch, then signed the Launch Readiness Certificate.
The Atlas V rocket, designated AV-108, stands 205 feet (62.5 meters) tall and will launch the Kuiper 3 payload into near-circular low Earth orbit (LEO) of approximately 280 miles (450 km) and 51.9 degrees inclination. At liftoff, the rocket generates a combined thrust of 2.7 million pounds (12 megaNewtons) from its main engine and five solid rocket boosters.
ULA will offer live reports from launch control in our automatically refreshing blog beginning Thursday at 5:15 a.m. EDT (0915 UTC). The launch webcast starts at L-20 minutes.
Atlas V Kuiper 3 mission information available here.
Launch Forecast Summary:
- Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 10%
- Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule
- Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24-hour delay: 15%
- Primary concern: Cumulus Cloud Rule
L-3 ULA Update: GO! for launch of Atlas V Kuiper 3 mission
Launch Readiness Review completed
The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) is GO for Thursday’s liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with another batch of production satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation. The mission is planned to lift off on Thurs., Sept. 25, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, at 8:09 a.m. EDT with a 29-minute window. Today’s forecast shows an 85 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.
The LRR, led by ULA Launch Director Ron Fortson, was completed this morning at the Advanced Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC).
Leadership from ULA, Amazon and Space Force assessed the readiness of the rocket, payload and mission assets, discussed the status of pre-flight processing work, heard technical overviews of the countdown and flight, and previewed the weather forecast that projects an 85 percent chance of meeting the launch rules.
At the conclusion of the meeting, senior leaders were polled and gave a ready status for launch, then signed the Launch Readiness Certificate.
The Atlas V rocket, designated AV-108, stands 205 feet (62.5 meters) tall and will launch the Kuiper 3 payload into near-circular low Earth orbit (LEO) of approximately 280 miles (450 km) and 51.9 degrees inclination. At liftoff, the rocket generates a combined thrust of 2.7 million pounds (12 megaNewtons) from its main engine and five solid rocket boosters.
ULA will offer live reports from launch control in the automatically refreshing blog beginning Thursday at 5:15 a.m. EDT (0915 UTC). The launch webcast starts at L-20 minutes.
Atlas V Kuiper 3 mission information available here.
Launch Forecast Summary:
- Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 15%
- Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule
